Mountain lion seen wandering in Redwood City shot

Authorities have shot a mountain lion that was wandering around a residential Redwood City neighborhood.

State Department of Fish and Game Lt. Todd Ajari says a warden with the agency hit the animal with two rifle shots around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the backyard of a home.

Authorities concluded that trying to tranquilize the animal was too risky. Ajari said it could have become angry and escaped into the community.

The animal was first spotted about three hours earlier on a busy street near Sequoia Hospital. The sighting prompted authorities to ask the residents of about 600 homes to evacuate or stay inside. A house-by-house search led them to the animal.

Officials say the mountain lion weighed between 100 and 150 pounds. It's not clear how it got into the neighborhood, which is not near any open space.